Situational awareness

Sallisaw Public Schools
Professional Development 2013

1. Looking is Not the Same as Seeing
Situational Awareness (SA) & Situational Awareness (SA) &
Active Shooter Response TrainingActive Shooter Response Training

Casey Eubanks
Sallisaw Public Schools
Professional Development
5 Aug 2013

2. Video
My Background
Situational Awareness
Exercise
“Run, Hide, Fight” Video
Profile of an Active Shooter
Indicators of Potential
Violence
Course of Action
LEO Response
Prevention
Summary
References

3. Awareness TestAwareness Test

4. BackgroundBackground
Sallisaw Public
Schools since 2006
Arkansas Air
National Guard since
1999
◦Intel Officer
◦Multiple Deployments
◦Vast amounts of
training on SA

5. http://goo.gl/1u0JEC
http://goo.gl/bJazgw

6. Shootings can occur anytime, anywhere, to anyone
Unlike any situation ever experienced
Bottom Line: You need to take direct responsibility for
your personal safety and security
Survival Mindset is a protective shield
Comprised of three components:
Awareness, Preparation, and Rehearsal

7. Survival Mindset Components
Awareness
Gain a basic understanding of situation
Be aware of your environment and any possible dangers
Take note of the two nearest exits in any facility you visit
Predetermined mindset will help you take rapid, effective
actions

8. Survival Mindset Components (Cont.)
Preparation
Looking at your school environment through the lens of
survival
“What if” questions are critical in developing effective
response strategies
Survivors prepare themselves both mentally and
emotionally to do whatever it takes to survive
Rehearsal
Mentally or physically practicing your plan
Will reduce response time and build confidence
A survival inoculation

9. Life-Threatening Risk:
Any action taken, or not taken, during an active-shooter
incident may involve life-threatening risk
Survival Mindset:
Will provide a strong foundation upon which to base
decisions and actions

10. Figure Out
How are you going to survive?
Will you get out (Run)? (Is there a path of escape?)
Will you hide out?
•Is there a chance to get to where the shooter may not
find you?
Is your only option to take out (fight) the shooter? Last
resort!

11. http://www.lawofficer.com/video/news/run-hide-fight-active-shooter
Run, Hide, Fight

12. An individual, or group of individuals, actively engaged in
killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and
populated area
Active shooters use firearm(s)
No pattern or method to their selection of victims
Could be anyone

13. Common Myths
Out of the blue
Never saw it coming
He just snapped
Most situations will resolve themselves if given a
cooling off period
Warning signs are always predictive of violent
behavior
Violence is random, spontaneous, and unpredictable
School violence is rampant
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15111438/

14. Realities
Threats are almost always present
Leakage, warnings made through comments (intentional or
unintentional) can reveal clues to feelings, thoughts,
fantasies, or intentions that may result in violence
Erratic/abnormal behavior is a principle warning sign of
future violence
Bullying is often a stepping stone to violence
The path toward violence, is an evolutionary one with signs
posted along the way (indicators)

15. Realities
School shootings are rare!
◦Tragic, Yes!
1980 – 2012, 297 People have
been killed in school shooting.
Homicides in Schools 1993 - 2010

17. Offenders
Increased use of alcohol and/or illegal drugs
Often exhibit angry or argumentative behavior
Unexplained increases in absenteeism
Depression / withdrawal
Blame others for their problems
Repeated violations to policy and procedures
Fail to take responsibility for their own actions
Increased severe mood swings
Retaliate against perceived injustice

18. Other Concerns
Increasingly talks of problems at home
Increasing belligerence
Behavior which is suspect of paranoia “everybody is against me”
Hypersensitivity to criticism
Recent acquisition/fascination with weapons
Talk of previous incidents of violence
Empathy with individuals committing violence

19. Other Concerns (Cont.)
Preoccupation with violent themes, video games
Interest in recently publicized violent events
Outburst of anger
Extreme disorganization
Noticeable changes in behavior
Homicidal/suicidal comments or threats

20. Motives:
61% motivated by desire for revenge
75% felt bullied/persecuted/threatened by others
Statistics:
93% of attackers engaged in some behavior prior to the
attack that caused others to be concerned
93% of attackers planned out the attack in advance

95% of attackers were current students

21. Survival Mindset
Enables you to act quickly and effectively
Mindful, not fearful
Airline safety briefing
Better able to make that first, critical decision
Continuous Assessment Process
Allows you to take appropriate survival action
Use all senses
Trust your intuition—that “gut” feeling (knowing without
knowing why)

22. Get Out (Run)
Move quickly; don’t wait for others to validate your
decision
Leave belongings behind
Survival chances increase if you are not where shooter
is or go where he can’t see you
Call Out
Inform authorities
Call 9-1-1 and tell them the name of shooter (if
known), shooter description, location, number and type
of weapons

23. Hide Out
May not be able to get out
Shooter between you and the only exit
Would have to enter area where shooter is
positioned
Hiding place
•Well hidden and well protected
•Avoid places that might trap you or restrict
movement

24. Keep Out
Find a room that can be locked with objects to hide behind
Blockade door with heavy furniture
Turn out lights; become totally silent
Turn off noise-producing devices
Call 9-1-1 (If you can do so without alerting the shooter)

25. Spread Out
If two or more of you, DO NOT huddle together; gives you
options and makes it harder for the shooter
Quietly develop a plan of action in the event the shooter
enters
Remain calm
Can have a contagious effect on others
Keeps others focused on survival

26. Take Out (LAST RESORT)
Assume shooter’s intentions are lethal
Shooter will succeed in shooting all those with whom he
comes in contact, UNLESS you stop him
Develop a survival mindset that you have “what it takes” to
survive when your life is on the line
You must be prepared to do whatever it takes to neutralize
the threat
Throw things, yell, use improvised weapons
If two or more of you, make a plan to overcome the
shooter
Do the best that you can—choose to survive

27. Arm Yourself with a Survival Mindset

28. Be observant of the environment you are traveling, fall
back on your First Observer Training.
◦Situational Awareness
◦Safety and Security Plans
◦Fall back on your training to react (think quickly)
If you see something that is not right, (guy with a gun)
don’t stop, continue to drive pass the stop and call
dispatch/authorities with your observations.
If you have already stopped and something happens,
Remember to “KEEP CALM”
We have LIMITED options in the confined space on the
bus

29. If suspicious or uncomfortable, report your observations and
feelings: “See Something, Say Something”
Violence and threats of violence
Often result from frustration and a communication
breakdown
Individuals can make a difference
Listen to “troubled” individual
People want to be heard and understood
A safe campus is everyone’s responsibility

30. See Something, Say Something: Tell a supervisor: Use the
“District Threat Response Procedure” for all threats
Recognizing the sound of gunshots
Reacting quickly when gunshots are heard or when a
shooting is witnessed:
Run
Hide
Fight (Take Action)
Call 911
Reacting when Law Enforcement arrives
Adopting the survival mindset during times of crisis

31. Safety Guidelines for Armed Subjects, Active Shooters
Situations, Indiana University Police Department, April 2007
Safety tips and guidelines regarding potential “Active Shooter”
incidents occurring on campus, University of California Police
Workplace Violence Desk reference, Security Management
Group International
How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations,
US Department of labor, OSHA 3088, 2001
Active Shooter, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Oct
2008

32. DHS Course, Active Shooter, What You Can Do,
Response to an Active Shooter Training (Online)
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS907.asp

33. Questions?
http://www.youtube.com/user/ushomelandsecurity
Stop, Look, Pay Attention
Looking is Not the Same as Seeing